2009 Halloween Math Class v2
This is a Halloween video trick I did for my Nature of Math class at Biola University, October 28, 2009. It was another experiment in video editing and mixing video with live action.
UPDATE: Version 2 – I fixed the audio so you can hear what I’m saying better.
You can download the full-quality version of this at: http://blog.MatthewWeathers.com/2009_Halloween_Math_Class_v2.mp4
UPDATE: NOV 1, 2009
Thanks for all the compliments. I appreciate it. All this attention was quite a surprise – I mainly posted the video for the students who weren’t in class that day, and so my students could pass it on to a few friends.
I’ve read a bunch of comments, and I have a few general responses:
Math: No, I wasn’t actually trying to teach anything with the video – it was just for fun. This was the last 5 minutes of a 75 minute class – I actually taught real math for the first 70 minutes. And yes, I love teaching this class, and I try to keep it lively by doing little fun things like this once in a while.
Software/Camera: I used Pinnacle Studio Ultimate, version 12.1 – the “picture-in-picture” feature for the special effects. I filmed it with a simple Panasonic PV-GS35 MiniDV camcorder.
Idea/Time: I did this last semester as an April Fool’s joke. New class, new year, I decided to try it again, with a few more twists. It took me about 45 minutes to film the video, maybe 2 hours to edit and refine it, then I practiced the interaction with the video a couple times.
Class: This was filmed with a video camera on a tripod in the back of class, with about 80 people in class that day. Those are real people, not a laugh track. The class is called “Nature of Math,” and is a general education class for non-math people. We do some basic math and study the history and philosophy of math. Yes, that’s Edwin Abbott’s “Flatland” I mention – students have to read it for the class.
Biola (biola.edu) is a private Christian university located in a Los Angeles suburb. I don’t place much significance in Halloween, but I don’t mind trivializing the day, and making it just about candy and costumes. The disclaimer at the end of version 2 is an imitation of the disclaimer Michael Jackson put at the beginning of his “Thriller” video. (BTW, Biola grad Judith Hill sang the last song at his funeral. Yeah, Biola!)
So thanks again for all your generous comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I hope it inspires you to go out and do creative, fun things of your own.
Duration : 0:4:0
djdfromdbb Says:
Awesome video… i …
Awesome video… i love the creativity
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
BrennusShamira Says:
I’m from Mexico and …
I’m from Mexico and found your video on the web. You’re a great teacher, not too much teachers do that kind of things for a class, specially a Math class.
Congratulations!! You gave me a couple ideas.
By the way, I’m a student.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
cabsdeath Says:
what a brilliant …
what a brilliant idea! such a great professor to take the time to do that!
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
bluelover112 Says:
your one awesome …
your one awesome math teacher :]
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Omgffsmf Says:
Most. Awesome. …
Most. Awesome. Teacher. Ever.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
ChildOfSephiroth Says:
I think i just died …
I think i just died a little. O.O
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Kronikwookie Says:
lmfao he fixed the …
lmfao he fixed the audion so you can hear him better… total bs xD
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Max44091 Says:
Omfg, that scared …
Omfg, that scared me.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Imfourty Says:
I wish you were my …
I wish you were my teacher!!!! I might actually like math then.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
uofl3000 Says:
what an awesome …
what an awesome teacher.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
RobertSchoenemann Says:
That was actually a …
That was actually a math class I’d be taking. Great job, seriously, and to guys below me: Do you really have to argue here? Get each others mail adress or phone number or whatever and argue there.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
IMMAFACELESS Says:
lol at Thriller …
lol at Thriller reference
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
90sShowsRbetter1379 Says:
@Nirvana9832
…
@Nirvana9832
whats ur problem? ur comment was totally un-necessary
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
golebiow6 Says:
Thank You. I am not …
Thank You. I am not “able to write properly”. In Europe we learn a lot of languages, so sometimes it is difficult to avoid some mistakes.
BTW: We learn languages on the contrary Americans…
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
saraliz617 Says:
Here, let me …
Here, let me correct that for you:
“You must be American. American manners are as poor as their schools.”
It is too bad you didn’t go to an American school or you would be able to write properly.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
golebiow6 Says:
But you must be an …
But you must be an American, don’t you ? American manners are poor as their school lvl…
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Nirvana9832 Says:
@ …
@90sShowsRbetter1379 pussy
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
90sShowsRbetter1379 Says:
i knew it was …
i knew it was coming… i had my fingers over my ears and i was squinting, saying, “its coming, its coming,its coming, its coming, AHH! … there it is… i saw it coming”
also, i SOOO wish my teachers were like u!
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
AureIium Says:
haha, I wish there …
haha, I wish there were more teachers like you out there. (:
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
kolorazomg Says:
Wow. I wish I had a …
Wow. I wish I had a teacher like you. That was fun, even to watch. Good idea to entertain the class, you truly love your job.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
mjeatsies Says:
that scared mee!
that scared mee!
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
jibbyc Says:
i understand that …
i understand that equation until the 4th line.
can someone explain that to me please?
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
mixedlatina2sexy Says:
maybe if i would …
maybe if i would have had a math teacher like this i wouldnt have failed the class …not to all teachers every where make math fun otherwise its just BORING NUMBERS!!!!
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
kristelandreajonas Says:
…the volume. THE …
…the volume. THE VOLUME!
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
lummi20 Says:
ugh he removed a -1 …
ugh he removed a -1 at the end. damnit i thought i have finally found a way to make 1=2
Posted on January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am